Attachment for coffins



(No Model.)

G. D. SHRADER. ATTACHMENT FOR oorrms.

No. 519,649. Patented May 8,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicE. I

CLARENCE SHRADER, OF. NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

ATTACHMENT FOR COFFINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,649, dated May 8, 1894.

Application filed November 19, 1892. Renewed March 19, 1894. Serial No. 504,296- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. SHRADER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Attachment for Ooffins, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an attachment for coffins, designed as a fastening device to secure the coifin lid in place and a device for the attachment of the lowering straps or ropes,

by means of which the coffin is lowered into the grave, or removed therefrom in exhuming.

strap or rope, and finally, because of the difficulty of attaching a strap or rope when it is necessary to exhume a corpse.

Further objects and advantages of myinvention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a coffin provided with my attachment in the operative position, with lowering straps attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail View, in perspective, of the attachment, detached.

A represents the coffin, having sides, 13 B, and the lid, 0, and D represents the attachment, comprising, essentially, a socket-piece, E, and an adjustable screw eye, L. Said socket piece comprises the plate, G, provided with perforations, g g, to receive screws, 9 g,

to secure the socket-piece to the inner surface of the side of the coffin, and an integral boss, H, adapted to fit in a recess or counter sink, I, in the upper edge of the side of the coffin, whereby the upper side of the boss is flush with the upper edge of the coffin. This boss is provided with a threaded socket, K, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. 7

The screw-eye L comprises a shank, M, a shoulder, N, and an eye F, above the shoulder such eye being formed into a transverse loop. The portion of the shank just beneath the shoulder is tapered, being reduced in size toward its lower end, and at the lower extremity of this tapered portion isa threaded stem, P, to fit in and project through the threaded socket,-K. It will be understood that the shank of the eye passes through the lid of the coffin, the shoulder bearing upon the upper surface thereof and the tapered "portionof the shank fitting in a corresponding shaped perforation in thelid, the thread ed stem engaging the threaded socket and extending through the same, (which is open at its lower end,) to engage the material of the side of the coffin. The tapered surface of the portion of the shank which extends through the lid, and the shoulder which engages the upper surface of the same, combine to clamp thelid firmly in place upon the coffin.

In operation, the lowering straps or ropes, (straps being shown in the annexed drawings) are passed through the loops at the upper ends of the screw eyes, thus enabling the operators to lower the coffin safely into the grave, and withdraw the straps or ropes without danger of catching or fouling, as frequently happens when they are passed under the coffin. Furthermore, when it becomes necessary to exhume a corpse, the straps or ropes may be fixed in the eyes without difficulty, the devices for attachment being at all times upon the top of the coffin.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An attachment for coffins comprising a socket-piece secured to the side of the coffin, and a screw eye, fitted in a perforation in the lid of the coffin and engaged in a socket in said socket piece, to hold the lid in place, said screw-eye being provided with a loop for the attachment of a lowering or exhuming strap or rope, substantially as specified.

2. An attachment for coflins comprising a fixed socket piece, adapted to be secured to the body of the coffin, and a screw-eye'having a loop for the attachment of a strap or rope, a tapered and shouldered shank to pass 4:. An attachment for coffins comprising a screw eye fitted in a perforation in the 11d of the coffin to hold the lid in place, said screw eye being provided with a loop for the attachment of a lowering or exhuming strap or rope, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE D. SHRADER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS HANLON, C. W. OoTToM. 

